Bills would take away local rules on dog breeding

Joan Kenoshmeg

Iron Mountain

Michigan Senate Bill 741 (Editor’s note: This bill would prohibit a local government from enacting or enforcing an ordinance or rule that regulates dogs based upon their breed or perceived breed; such rules usually have been aimed at pit bull-style or other breeds considered potentially aggressive or dangerous) plus SB 708, SB 709 and SB 710, have been promoted by a PAC in Utah with automated email campaigns targeting out-of-state residents to send emails to our elected officials. Many believe this PAC has a financial interest in keeping dogs overbred.

Michigan legislators should not take blood money from these PACs. Local governments should continue to exercise “home rule,” as written into our constitution, and have control over our local laws, not out-of-state PACs. Big Government bills, telling local communities what they can and cannot do, should be resisted at all costs.

Proactive Michigan governments in Ypsilanti and others towns had problems with dog attacks, overbreeding and dead dogs from dog fighting, so passed local ordinances to require pit bulls to be spayed and neutered. These laws dramatically reduced taxes, dog fighting, dog attacks and euthanizations, as well as gang-related violence that dog fighting brings with it.

The proactive local laws regarding pets should remain in local governments control. PETA and other animal advocacy organizations are against these bills, as they allow human greed to be hidden under the disguise of animal advocacy.

Passage of these bills in other states have caused dog fighting and serious dog attacks, including fatalities, to dramatically escalate.